Clip-bending die



Feb. 5, '1929. 1,701,250

H. M. YOUNG CLIP BENDING DIE Filed June 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 5, .1929. 1,101,250 v H. M. YOUNG CLIP BENDING DIE Filed June 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 spectively.

Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

, UNITED STATES 1,701,250 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY H. YOUNG, OF WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 'IO CALUMET STEEL COMPANY, 01 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 02 ILLINOIS.

CLIP-LENDING DIE.

Application filed June 28,

This invention relates to a die for clinching the prongs of U-shaped metal clips about the side edges of rolled metal fence posts for securing anchor plates thereto.

With dies as heretofore used difiiculty has been experienced in the prongs of the clips breaking off during the clinching operation, especially with posts having rearwardly inclmed flanges extending along the sides of the post. With these posts in particular the die action was such that these flanges were distorted to such an extent at the clips as to cause the hard metal posts to produce a shearing action on the softer metal clips.

The main object of my invention is to overcome this difiiculty by providing a die which will effectively clinch the prongs of the clips over the flanged edges of the posts without shearing the clips as heretofore.

A further object of my invention is to provide a diewhich is automatic in its action after being set in motion and which will firmly and rigidly clinch the prongs of the cli 's over the side edges of the posts to effective y 3 secure the anchor plates thereto.

The invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the lower member of my improved die;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing both the upper and lower members of the die in separated relation;

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views showing how the die operates to clinch the prongs of a clip over the side edges of a post in securing an anchor plate thereto;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 to show a detail of con struction;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fi s. 7 and 8 are front and side views, re-

metal studded fence post having an anchor plate fastened thereto by a clip which is clinched against the post by the die of my invention; and

.Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7, showing the clip before its prongs are clinched over the side edges of the post.

The die of my invention comprises a base plate 1 which is bolted or otherwise rigidly of the lower portion of a rolled 1927. Serial N0. 900,868.

2 which extends clear across the base from front to rear and in which is tightly fitted a hard tool steel insert 3. The latter extends the full lengh of the channel 2 and has its u per surface flush with the top surface of t e base 1, as shown in Fig. 2. Two substantially parallel steel bars or strips 4, 4 are secured on the top surface of the base 1 along the side edges of the insert 3. These stri s 4 extend substantially half way across the base 1 from its rear edge 5 and provide stops for the anchor plate 6 so as to center or position its fastening clip 7 with respect to the bending and clinching do s 8, 8 of the die when inserting the assem led post 9, plate 6, and clip 7 into the die from the front edge 5 of the base 1. When so positioned, the body portion 7 of the clip 7 lies flatwise against the upper surface of the insert 3 with the prongs 7 of the clip extending vertically upward between the do s 8, 8, as shown.

The post 9 is of the ro ed steel type, preferably T-shape in cross-section, and has a row of studs or lu s 10, 10 extending alon the center of the head or front flange 9v o the post the full length thereof, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8. These studs or lugs 10 are produced in the rolling of the post and ro-' ject outward from the front flange 9 rom a low rib 11 extending along the length of the post and roduced in the rolling thereof. The insert 3 as a shallow groove 12 extending lengthwise thereto to receive the lugs or studs 10 and thus permit the body portion. 7.of the clip to lie against the insert 3, as shown.

Guide blocks 13, 13 are secured on the u per side of the base 1 on opposite sides of tl i e insert 3. These blocks are oppositely dis-. posed and are cut away on their under sides adjacent the insert 3 to provide recesses 14, 14 to receivethe outer side portions of the anchor plate 6 and hold the plate from tipping during the bending and clinching operapassages 20, in the lower ends of the levers the contour of the ortions of the anchor plate 6 engaged there y, so as to automatically adjust and center the plate with its clip 7 between the dogs 8 on inserting the assembled ost, plate, and clip into the die from its ront edge 5. The lower or pointed end portion of the post 9 at this time lies between the strips 4 and these are spaced apart for that purpose.

Slidably mounted in the guides 13 are plungers 15, 15 having their outer ends rounded and acted upon by the lower ends of vertically disposed levers 16, 16, which are fulcrumed at 17, 17 to upwardly extending lugs or ears 18, 18 at the outer ends of the guides. The plungers 15 are provided with outwardly projecting rods 19, 19, which extend through 16, as shown in Fig. 3. The rods 19 extend outward beyond the levers 16 and there carry coiled expansion springs 21, 21, which hold the plungers 15 against the lower ends of the levers16, 16 and return the plungers and the levers to their normal positions after the clinching operation of the die. The springs 21 are interposed between washers 22, 23 on the respective rods, with the washers 23 held by the springs against nuts 24 on the outer ends of the rods, and with the washers 22 held by the springs against the outer sides of the levers.

The dogs 8, 8 are at the inner ends of the plungers 15 and normally project beyond the inner ends of the guides 13. The dogs are pivoted to their respective plungers 15 by horizontal pivot pins 25 so that the dogs may have up and down movements at the proper time. To permit of these movements, the upper edge of each dog 8 on the outer side of the pivot 25 is beveled off or inclined, as at 26, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the dogs 8 are projected far enough out of the guides 13 to be in positions to clinch the prongs of the clip 7, the straight upper edges 27 of the dogs inside of the inclines 26 lie outside of the guides 13 so that the dogs may be forced downward to clinch the prongs of the clip 7 by the ram 28, which is carried by the vertically reciprocable plunger or head 29 of the press. When the dogs 8 are retracted back into the guides 13 through the action of the springs 21 on the plungers, the upper straight edges 27 of the dogs are then within the guides 13 and the dogs are held from pivotal movements. The dogs 8 and plungers 15 are preferably made rectangular in cross-section, and the slideways in the guides 13 are similarly shaped so as to hold the dogs and the plungers from turning, as indicated in Fig. 5.

Screwed or otherwise secured to the under side of the plunger 29 is a plate 30, which forms the upper member of my improved die. This plate 30 extends on opposite sides of the plunger 29 and there carries rollers 31 which are designed to operate on the upper inclined or beveled ends 32 of the levers 16. These inclines terminate in vertical notches 33 33 on the inner sides of the levers 16 and into which notches the rollers 31 pass after leaving the inclines 32.

The structure shown and described operates as follows. The anchor plate 6 is first applied to the post 9 and the prongs 7 of the clip 7 are inserted through openings 6*,6intheplate with the prongs of the clip extending upward on opposite sides of the post. The assembly is then inserted endwise into the die between the dogs 8, 8, which are retracted at this time by the springs 21 into the positions shown in Fig. 2 so that the upright prongs of the clip may pass between them. In inserting the as sembly into the die, the side portion of the anchor plate 6 enter the channels 14, and the plate is stopped by contact with the strips 4 with the u wardly extending prongs 7 between the' ogs and in position to be operated upon by them.

Power is then applied to the press and the plunger 29 is moved downward, carrying therewith the rollers 31 into engagement with the inclined surfaces 32 atthe upper ends of the levers 16 which at this time are extending vertically upward. A continued downward movement of the plunger 29 causes the rollers 31 to move down the inclines 32 of the levers and move the lower ends of the latter inward,

thereby moving the plungers 15 inward and moving the dogs 8 toward each other to bend the prongs 7 b of the clip 7 inward and over the side edges of the front flange 9* of the post, as shown in Fig. 3. When this has occurred, the rollers 31, 31 then pass over the lower ends of the inclines 32 and continue down into the notches 33, 33 and hold the levers 16 from being brought back -to their normal upright positions by the springs 21. The notches 33 are deep enough so thatthe head 29 in its continued downward movement may bring the ram 28 against the inner ends of the dogs 8, 8 and force them downward toward the post and the plate. The lower portions of the dogs are shaped so as to force the bent over prongs of the clip down into tight engagement with the rear side of the front flange of the post on opposite/sides of its rear or back web 9*, as shown in Fig. 4, and thereby clinch the clip against the post and tightly secure the anchor plate thereto. After this has been accomplished, the head 29 starts upward on itsreturn movement and the ram 28 is withdrawn from contact with the dogs. As soon as the rollers 31 leave the notches 33, the levers 16 are then free to be swung into their normal upright positions by the springs 21, the plungers 15 and dogs 8 being retracted from the post into the guides 13, as shown in Fig. 2. The die is then in position to receive another post for fastening an anchor plate thereto by a clip 7.

The passages 20 in the levers 16 are made lar 'e enough so that the levers may swing bac and forth withoutbinding on the rods 19. The lower inner ends of the dogs 8 are pointed, as at 8*, so as to clinch the prongs 7 about the rearwardly inclined flanges 9 which are provided at the side edges of the post, as shown in the drawings. With this arrangement, the flan es 9 at the sides of the post are not acte on to be bent out of position or distorted to have a shearing action on the softer metal clip as heretofore. The ram 28 is clamped to the head 29 of the press by a fastening block 34 and screws 35, as shown in Fig. 6. The ram has a shank 36, which is engaged by the block 34, as shown. \Vhere the dogs 8 are pivoted to their .respective plungers 15, the latter are bifurcated or slotted, as at 37, to receivetongues 38 on the dogs, as shown in Fig. 1.

My improved die is'simple in construction and operation and positive in its action. It effects a rigid fastening of the anchor plate to the post by clinching the prongs of'the clip down against the rear side of the ost without shearing off the clips as hereto ore.

The details of structure shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a base adapted to support a metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip against the base and having its prongs extending upward through the plate on opposite sides of the post, dog's supported by the base on opposite sides of the post, means for first moving the dogs toward each other for'bending the roms of the clip inward over the side edges of the post, and means for thereafter forcing the dogs downward toward the post for clinching the bent over prongs of the clip against the rear side of the post.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a base adapted to support a metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip against the base and having its prongs extending upward through the plate on opposite sides of the post, dogs supported by the base on opposite sides of the post, means including a cam action for first moving the dogs toward each other for bending the prongs of the clip inward over the sides of the pcst,'and means for thereafter forcing the dogs downward toward the post for clinching the bent over prongs of the clip against the rear side of the post.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a base adapted to support a metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip against the base and having its prongs extending upward through the plate on opposite sides of the ost which has rearwardly extending incline flanges along its said side edges, dogs mounted on the base against the rear side of the post, said dogs having. pointed ends to clinch the prongs around 'the inclined flanges along the sides of the post.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a base adapted to su port a metal fence post with its anchor p ate and clip, with the clip against the base and having its prongs extending upward through the plate on opposite sides of the post, guides on the base on opposite sides ofthe .post, plungers slidably mounted in said guldes, dogs pivoted to the inner ends of the plungers, means acting on the outer ends of the plungers for moving the dogs toward each other for bending the prongs of the clip inward over the side edges ofthe post, and means for forcing the do s downward toward the post for clinching the bent over prongs of the clip against the rear side of the post.

5-. A device of the character described, comprising a base adapted to support a metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip against the base and hav-.

ing its prongs extending upward through the late on opposite sides of the ost, guides on t e base on opposite sides of t e post and having rectangular slideways, plungers fitting in said slideways, dogs pivoted tothe inner ends of the plungers for vertical movement, means actin on the plungers for moving the dogs towar each other for bending the prongs of the clip inward over the side edges of the post, and means for forcing the dogs downward toward the post for clinching the bent over prongs against the rear side of the post, said dogs having inclined surfaces which when free of the guides permit the dogs to be forced downward to clinch the prongs.

6. A device of the character described, com prising a base adapted to support a metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip against the base and having its prongs extending upward through the plate-0n opposite sides of the post, guides on the base on opposite sides of the post, dogs slidably mounted in said guides, means for first moving the dogs toward each other for bending the prongs of the clip inward over the side edges of the post, and means for thereafter forcing-the dogs downward toward the post 7 A device of the character described, comprising a. base adapted'to support a metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip against the base and havlng'its prongs extending upward through the plate on opposite sides of the 0st, guides on the base on opposite sides of t e post, plungers shdably mounted inthe guides, dogs pivoted to the inner ends of the plungers, levers pivoted on the guides at the outer ends of the plungers, means acting on the levers to move the dogs toward each other for bending the prongs of the clip inward over the side edges of the post, a ram for thereafter acting on the dogs for clinching the prongs against the rear side of the post, and springs means for returning the levers, dogs, and plungers to their normal positions in the upward movement of the ram out of engagement with said dogs.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a base adapted to support a metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip against the base and having its prongs extending upward through the plate on opposite sides of the post, guides on the base on opposite sides of the post, dogs slidably mounted in said guides, upright levers pivoted to the guides and having inclines and notches at their upper ends, a movable member having rollers to engage the inclines of the levers for moving the dogs inward toward each other for bending the prongs of the clip inward over-the side edges of the post, and a ram carried by said member and operating against the dogs to clinch the bent over prongs of the clip against the rear side of the post as the rollers are moved downward into the notches of the levers.

9. A device of the character described, comprising a base adapted to support a metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip against the base and having its prongs extending upward through the plate on opposite sides of the post, guides on the base on opposite sides of the post, plungers slidably mounted in said guides and having outwardly extending rods, upright levers pivoted on the guides at the outer ends of the plungers, dogs pivoted to the inner ends of the plungers, a movable member arranged above the base and adapted to act in its downward movement on the lovers to more the dogs toward each other for bending the prongs of the clip inward over the side edges of the post, a ram carried by said member and engageable with the inner ends of the dogs for clinching the bent over prongs of the clip against the rear side of the post, and coiled springs on the rods for holding the levers against the plungers and for returning the dogs, plungers, and levers to their normal positions in the upward movement of the ram out of engagement with the dogs.

10. A device of the character described, comprising a base adapted to support a metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip against the base and having its prongs extending upward through the plate on opposite sides of the post, guides on the base on opposite sides of the post, plungers slidably mounted in the guides, rods secured to the outer ends of the plungers and extending outward therefrom,-dogs pivoted to the inner ends of the plungers, upright levers pivoted to the guides at the outer ends of the plungers and having passages for the rods to pass through, said levers having inclines and notches at their upper ends, a vertically movable member above the base and having rollers to engage the inclines of the levers for moving the dogs toward each other, a ram carried by said member for forcing the inner ends of the dogs downward as the rollers enter the notches inthe levers in the downward movement of said member, and coiled spr ngs on the rods for holding the levers against the plungers and for returning the plungers, levers, and dogs to their normal positions as the ram moves upward out of engagement with the dogs.

11. A device of the character described,

comprising a'base adapted to support a metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip on the base and having its prongs extending upward through the plate on opposite sides of the post, dogs supported by the base on opposite sides of the post, means for first moving the dogs toward each other for bending the prongs of the clip inward over the side edges of the post, means for thereafter forcing the dogs downward toward the post for clinching the bent over prongs of the clip against the rear side of the post, and stop means on the base for centering the clip with respect to the dogs.

12. A device of the character described, comprising a base adapted to support a metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip against the base and having its prongs extending upward through the plate on opposite sides of the post, guides on the base on opposite sides of the post, dogs slidably mounted in said guides, means for first moving the dogs toward each other for bending the prongs of the clip inward over the side edges of the post, and means for thereafter forcing the dogs downward toward the post for clinching the bent over prongs against the rear side of the post, said guides having recesses at the base to receive the side portions of the anchor plate for holding said plate against tipping and lateral displacement during the operation of the dogs on the prongs of the clip.

13. A device of the character described. comprising a base adapted to support a rolled studded metal fence post with its anchor plate and clip, with the clip on the base and aving its prongs extending upward through the plate on opposite sides of the post, dogs" on the base on opposite sides of the post, means for first moving the dogs toward each other for bending the prongs of the clip inward over the side edges of the post, and

- means for thereafter forcing the dogs toward the post for clinching the bent over prongs of the clip against the rear side of the post,

said base having a groove running across the same to receive the studs of the post so that the clip may lie againstthe base during the 10 clinching operation of the dogs on the clip.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HARRY YOUNG. 

